1 week Ago
A horticulture student has designed a show garden for the BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair. Molly Sheppard-Ward, a level 3 horticulture student from Plumpton College, East Sussex, will showcase her design at the fair in Beaulieu, New Forest, from May 2 to 4. The fair is a celebration of the gardening and growing season.
Plumpton College is one of four colleges participating in the BBC Gardeners' World Spring Fair College Gardens competition this year. The challenge is to create a budget-friendly showcase garden based on the theme of "Nature’s Art within the Garden." The college teams are mentored by award-winning garden designer Cherry Carmen, who has previously won a Gold Award at BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
The Plumpton College entry is a garden called Art in the Dark. It tells the story of a fictional character, Cyril, an elderly RAF veteran who, despite losing his sight in the war, has found comfort and connection in a multi-sensory garden created with his late wife, Peggy. With its rustling leaves and plants, scented flowers, rich soil, and bricks underfoot, the garden comes to life, each step and touch evoking treasured memories and a shared love of finding art within nature.
Lucy Tremlett, event director at Immediate Live, organisers of the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, said: "We’re always blown away by the creativity, brilliant design, hard work, and effort that goes into creating the College Gardens. "We can’t wait to see the Plumpton College students bring their Art in the Dark design to life at Beaulieu. "Spring Fair visitors can look forward to a really exciting collection of gardens this year, packed with inspiring ideas to try at home.
" The BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair celebrates the start of the gardening and growing season with its longer, warmer days, new shoots, buds, and blooms. It’s a great day out for gardeners and non-gardeners alike, and tickets include access to all of Beaulieu’s attractions, like the National Motor Museum and Palace House. Spring Fair highlights include the headline sponsor’s Hillier Experience with its large, woodland-themed feature garden, advice pods and shop, glorious Showcase Gardens and Beautiful Borders, and the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine stage featuring special guests, Adam Frost (Friday), Arit Anderson (Saturday) and – new for 2025 - Carol Klein (Saturday and Sunday), with the Magazine editors.
Stage sponsor, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, return with their popular Plants of the World sessions, hosted by gardening and horticulture expert, David Hurrion. The BBC Gardeners’ World team will be introducing the ‘Make a Metre Matter’ campaign, designed to encourage as many people as possible to transform one metre of outdoor space for the good of the planet. From tiny ponds and salad patches to compost heaps and pollinator-friendly mini-beds, the collective effect of these nature-friendly metres will be significant.
Spring Fair visitors are encouraged to register their campaign metres at GardenersWorld.com for a chance to win £500 or £1,000 of Crocus vouchers. More than 3,700 metres have already been registered.
Award-winning garden designer, Pip Probert (BBC 2 Your Garden Made Perfect), is creating a collection of Make a Metre Matter designs to inspire Spring Fair visitors to get involved and create their own. New for 2025 is the Spring Table, a stylish new space for seasonal food, drink and outdoor décor inspiration. Host Chris Bavin, the BBC food presenter, welcomes guest chefs and mixologists from the Lime Wood and Pig hotels for no-cook recipe demos and cocktail masterclasses.
Mushroom experts, Caley Brothers, will be preparing fabulous fungi while floral designer, Jordan Weston, introduces the art of Ikebana flower arranging..
